A career as an editor is often a solo adventure, especially if you’re a freelancer. So, we thought one way to better connect with fellow editors was to ask them to submit their responses to a set of questions based on the Five Ws: who, what, where, when, and why. Read on for some thought-provoking, enlightening tidbits from those of us who choose to work with words to earn our keep.
Please tell us a little about yourself, the kind of work you do (and where you live), and how long you’ve been an editor.
I started freelancing in 1995, right out of the gate, without first working in-house, breaking all the standard advice! My basic “elevator speech” is “I edit books for publishers.” I started out working mostly on college textbooks, then moved into trade fiction and nonfiction, cookbooks, and scholarly books. Right now my work is about 75 percent copy editing fiction for several Big Five publishers as well as smaller presses. I also do proofreading and a little bit of line editing, and I also work on trade nonfiction. I live in central Wisconsin.
Who: If you could edit one famous author, living or dead, who would it be?
Well, I’ve already edited several famous authors! Some famous authors I’ve read for my own pleasure are Kurt Vonnegut, Pearl S. Buck, John Irving, Patricia Cornwell, Michael Crichton, and John Grisham.
What: What is the one thing that has helped you the most in your career as an editor?
Definitely networking, facilitated by the internet and social media. When I started editing, I was here in my garret in the middle of nowhere and I didn’t know a soul in the profession. The email discussion list Copyediting-L was my first introduction to other editors, and I’m still friends with many of those colleagues today. I learned so much by lurking and then participating in discussions. In the late 2000s, when I joined social media and started attending in-person conferences, things really kicked into high gear. I love putting voices and faces to people I’ve known only as pixels on my screen, and conversely, a brief chat at a conference often spills over into a richer online friendship. And I also discovered that I knew more than I thought I did and had something to offer newer editors, so that’s when I started speaking and writing and presenting on editorial topics. None of that would have happened if I’d stayed here in my garret.
Where: If you could work anywhere in the world as an editor, where would that be?
Well, see, that’s the beautiful thing about freelancing! You can work pretty much anywhere you want, as long as there’s an Internet connection. I like having a home base, but I could also see myself just travelling and getting to see more of the world. And I admire those who can make it happen. (Though it would be hard to give up my quad monitor setup!)
When: Was there ever a time in your life when you seriously questioned your career choice?
Not really. Sometimes I’m a bit jealous of folks who can close the door on their job at 5:00 pm and not think about it until the next day. I don’t work regular hours; I like to sprinkle personal activities throughout my week, so it’s not unusual for me to work evenings or weekends or long days to meet a deadline. Work is always on my mind to some extent. Fortunately I love my work and I plan to continue editing as long as my mind and body permit me to do so!
Why: Why did you choose to become an editor? Or, should we ask: Why did editing choose you?
Ah, a history question! In 1994, I was working at a printing company in the prepress department, and, though I loved the work, I wasn’t fond of the job: politics, difficult coworkers, the commute, etc. I thought about what skills I had that I could turn into a business I could run from home, and I turned to my affinity for the written word. I did a bunch of research and self-study, and in March 1995 I was off and running, at least part-time; I continued working at my printing job until I finally decided to take the leap into full-time freelancing in October 1995. Thinking back, I realize that I didn’t know what I didn’t know! But one client turned into two, and then more, and pretty soon I was ruined for ever having a “real job” again. I’ve always loved having the privilege to be a part of the process of making books, and helping authors share their knowledge and tell their stories. And I get to learn lots of new things every day!
And, of course, we just had to ask the inevitable how: How would you sum up your motto?
Hmm, I can’t really say that I have a particular motto, but if you want some general advice for editors that I try to follow myself, it would be this: Be curious, be flexible, be professional, and be kind.
This article was copy edited by Erin Della Mattia.
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